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Bachelor’s buttons (Centaurea cyanus), also known as cornflowers or basket flowers, grow wild in corn fields in both Europe and the United States earning them the name of cornflower. The name of bachelor’s button comes from the practice of men wearing them in a buttonhole on their shirts while courting, as the cut flowers remain fresh and resist wilting. These hardy annuals tolerate temperatures to 41 degrees Fahrenheit and bloom from spring until late fall. Colors range from the traditional blue to shades of pink, white, red and violet. These sun-loving flowers brighten the landscape with a profusion of blooms, especially if they are pruned properly before blooming.

1

Pinch out the new growth on the growing end of bachelor’s buttons with your thumb and fingers when the plants are 4 to 6 inches tall to encourage new growth along the stems. This causes the plant to produce dense foliage that supports more blooms.

2

Repeat pinching every week or two, depending on how fast your plants are growing, to initiate further branching. As rule, once new growth is 2 to 3 inches long, pinching out the tiny leaves on the tips keeps your bachelor’s buttons in shape and produces healthy foliage.

3

Cease pinching when the plant reaches its desired density or buds begin to form. Removing some buds on bachelor’s buttons causes the remaining flowers to be larger, explains the Colorado State University Extension agency website – it but comes at the expense of fewer blooms.

4

Deadhead old flowers as soon as they begin to fade by cutting the flower stem back to the next set of buds to prolong blooming. Allowing old flowers to stay on the plant causes the plant to devote its energy to seed production and sends the message that further blooms are not needed. By deadheading the blooms, you trick the plant into thinking it has not produced enough blooms to reproduce. It responds by producing more blooms.

Things You Will Need

Garden shears or knife

Tips

Water once or twice a week or whenever the soil feels dry to the touch 1 inch below the surface.

Warning

Some wild bachelor’s buttons are perennials in warm climates, but most bachelor’s buttons are annuals. Many annual bachelor’s buttons self seed prolifically and appear to be perennials. Always check the seed packet to determine the type you are planting.

About the Author

Nannette Richford is an avid gardener, teacher and nature enthusiast with more than four years' experience in online writing. Richford holds a Bachelor of Science in secondary education from the University of Maine Orono and certifications in teaching 7-12 English, K-8 General Elementary and Birth to age 5.